Annual 11 Day Lowcountry Event Offers Up New Attractions, New Food, & New Exhibits For 2025

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer 

While the Coastal Carolina Fair has its origins dating back a century, its partnership with The Exchange Club of Charleston took shape in 1957. After two location moves the fair found a permanent home in 1979 at The Exchange Park on Hwy 78 in Ladson. With its 180 acres and ample parking, the fair welcomes attendees year after year and has become an annual fixture on low country calendars in late October and early November. This year's theme is 'Under the Stars' with the 11 day event taking place Oct 30 - Nov 11.

With more than 65 rides and attractions Reithoffer Shows promises to have rides that provide epic views, thrills of a lifetime, and more than two dozen rides that a kid friendly as well as 10 never before seen rides at the fair. Making it's debut this year, the Mega Drop, will drop riders 120 feet, while the Windmill spins eight riders at 80 miles per hour.

Reithoffer's Vertigo (60 ft. swing ride), Zero Gravity, Freak Out, and Ring of Fire (accelerated circular train ride) are not for the faint of heart, nor is Pharoah's Fury or Full Tilt ( high speed spin ride). Patrons seeking a more subdued experience with yesteryear adventure might want to check out the Gentle Giant (90 ft. gondola Ferris wheel) or the Grand Carousel that provides seniors a nostalgic spin down memory lane especially with grandkids in tow.

Ideal for Halloween, the Haunted Mansion is an eerie ride through a dark and scary house. Mazes, funhouses, roller coasters, and more. Reithoffer promises their first trip to the low country of South Carolina will knock the socks off fair goers of all sizes and ages.

One of the main reasons the Exchange Club partners with Reithoffer is due to their impeccable safety record. They currently have 14 NAARSO (National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials) certified employees including inspectors and mechanics that are OSHA compliant. Being a fifth generation family owned amusement company, the Reithoffer's like to say their children, family, and friends ride on these rides right next to you, so safety is their number one priority.

Although the rides, games, and food get the bulk of the attention, the Coastal Carolina Fair has lots to offer if you just the time to check out the entire park. From agriculture exhibits, bull riding, and 4-F Programs to Baked Goods, Creative Arts, & Photography Competitions the Coastal Carolina Fair showcases some of the finest events from local and regional participants. Enjoy everything from daily Chili Cook-Offs to cooking demonstrations.

As they've done for decades the Coastal Carolina Fair bring in a variety of name artists to perform nightly on the Lakefront Stage. Entertainment this year includes country singers Colt Ford (Oct 30), George Birge (Nov 1), Craig Campbell (Nov 6), and Preston Cooper (Nov 8) as well as vintage rock from Richie & the High Street Rockers (Nov 5), Southern Soul Night (Nov 3), Queen Nation (Nov 7) and the American Bull Riders Tour on several nights. Plus be sure to catch the Sea Lion Splash Show.

Not to be outdone, Ronnie & Kim Netterfield and the Netterfield family bring some of the most sought after and outrageous festival foods to the Coastal Carolina Fair each and every year. Netterfield's operate roughly 14 stands surrounding the midway. You can chow down on Italian & Polish style sausages, as well as corndogs, chili dogs, turkey legs, sliced pizza, popcorn, cotton candy, and old time lemonade. Serving up unique carnival foods for nearly a century. Eat & repeat!

Some of the new foods making an appearance this year are the 'Pigs Trough' aka a six scoop banana split with six toppings, the Demetrius Greek Food's Plaka Gyro, and 'Moose Juice' basically a Cheerwine dream made from ice cream, whipped cream, and cookies.

Deana's Diner offers up a new mouthwatering Campfire Burger, sure to tantalize the taste buds, and from Dr. Vegetable comes Nashville Hot Pickles drizzled with Hot Nashville Sauce. Feeling adventurous, then try fair fare during the 11 day Coastal Carolina Fair.

As usual the fair is known for its worldly flavors and obscure menu items. You'll find Asian, Mexican, Italian, Greek and American food items lined up all around the parkway and midway. The standard fare will be available throughout the park including popcorn, pizza, peanuts, hotdogs, sausages, cheesesteaks, burgers, chicken fingers, French fries, soft serve ice cream, shaved ice, elephant ears, burritos, gyros, turkey legs, candy apples, and fried everything, as well as plenty of ice cold beverages.

And for those 21 and over there's the always popular Beer Garden, and due to its popularity 2025 will feature two (count 'em), two separate beer gardens.

Over 70 food and beverage concessions to tantalize the taste buds. Hey, the fair comes to town only once a year, 'take a walk on the wild & wacky food side'. In case you're wondering the Bulk Candy Store will be back in 2025.

The Coastal Carolina Fair has been entertaining kids of all ages for 68 years, and been in residence at the Exchange Park in Ladson going on 46 years. Often three or four generations enjoy the fair year in and year out. For some it's a right of passage. Running daily Thursday Oct 30th thru Sunday November 9th the fair is 11 fun filled days. I suggest families with young kids try to make it to the park early. They open at 3pm weekdays, 10am Saturdays, and at noon on Sundays.

With all the glitz and glamour the Coastal Carolina Fair presents the underlying goal is their commitment to give back to the community. Over the years the Exchange Club of Charleston through proceeds from the fair have given millions of dollars to worthy local causes.

Berkeley Seniors, the Dorchester Child Advocacy Center, Metanoia, Dorchester Habitat for Humanity, and the Low Country Food Bank are just a few of the 50 plus neighborhood organizations that have benefitted from charitable contributions from the fair. In 2024 the Exchange Club is happy to report they donated just under one million dollars to local charities and organizations. Freakin' awesome!

The Exchange Club of Charleston along with the fine staff and volunteers at the Coastal Carolina Fair like to say 'supporting the fair supports supports our community'. While you're flying high in the sky, maybe enjoying some crazy carnival foods, taking in a concert, or trying to desperately win that stuffed animal for your five year old, it's nice to know that some of the money your spending gets returned to local groups that desperately need our support.

Military (active & retired) as well as any and all who work as first responders get in free on Friday Oct 31st. Enjoy two for one ride wristbands on Tues Nov 4th. For more on the fair, the exhibits, competitions, entertainment and promotions visit their website at https://www.coastalcarolinafair.org/